(1925-2006)

“Black, blue sash and cap”

A controversial politician, Charles J Haughey had a brilliant brain and was backed by a loyal soft-Republican following, which put him at the forefront of Irish political life for over 40 years.

Born in Castlebar, Co Mayo, Haughey was educated by the Christian Brothers and at University College Dublin, where he qualified as a chartered accountant. Founder of the accountancy firm Haughey and Boland, he joined the Fianna Fáil party, marrying Maureen, daughter of future Taoiseach Sean Lemass in 1951.

Haughey represented Dublin North East in the Dail from 1957 until 1992, serving in several ministries. As Minister for Justice he introduced the Succession Act and established military courts to tackle violent Republican agitation.

His spell as Minister for Agriculture (1964-66) was less successful when he got embroiled in a public battle with farming organisations that brought protesting farmers on to the streets.

Moved to the Ministry for Finance in 1966, Haughey introduced the Turnover Tax. More controversial was his provision in the 1969 Finance Act that introduced an exemption from income tax on stallion fees and relieved beneficiaries from having to make a tax return. Many years later it came to light that the Minister, who purchased the Rath Stud in Co Meath in 1968, had been a member of stallion syndicates organised by Tim Rogers of the Airlie Stud and therefore a beneficiary of the measure, though he never declared this to the Dáil.

Haughey bought his first racehorse, Miss Cossie, in 1962 and enjoyed success over jumps with Vulforo and on the flat with Aristocracy. His best horse was Flashing Steel, trained by his son-in-law John Mulhern to win the Irish Grand National.

Principal winners:

1973 Vulforo (Power Gold Cup)

J T R Dreaper

1977 Aristocracy (Whitehall Stakes)

R J McCormick

1995 Flashing Steel (Irish Grand

National) J E Mulhern

(1941-1990) Jockey and trainer

A son of Co Dublin trainer Cyril B Harty, John Harty opened his account when riding Springfield Lad, owned and trained by his brother ‘Buster’ to win a Clonmel bumper in March 1964.

John Harty represented Ireland in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the three-day event competition and was called to the Bar in 1967. Forced to choose between a legal career and racing, Harty chose the Sport of Kings and the risky life of a professional jockey. Honorary Treasurer of the Jockeys’ Association, John Harty rode Daletta to win the Irish Grand National in 1980.

When he retired from the saddle after a lengthy career, John Harty began training before falling victim to motor neurone disease.

Principal winners as a jockey:

1967 Gypsando (Prince of Wales’s Chase/Munster National) C B Harty Jr

1968 Gypsando (Guinness H’cap Chase, Punchestown) C B Harty Jr 1969 Gypsando (Leopardstown Chase) C B Harty Jr., Seashine (Sir Billy Butlin Hurdle, Fairyhouse) G Wells

1970 Money Boat (Ulster National)

C B Harty Jr

1972 Persian Lark (Galway Plate)

J F Maxwell

1976 Master Monday (Sweeps Hurdle)

L Quirke

1977 Master Monday (Irish Champion Hurdle) L Quirke

1979 Exalted (Victor Ludorum Hurdle, Haydock) J S Bolger

1980 Daletta (Embassy Final/Irish Grand National) Guy St John Williams, Paddy Bouler (Power Gold Cup) P Rooney

Principal winners as a trainer:

1885 G T Pierse’s Dotis Dictio (Naas November H’cap)

1986 G T Pierse’s Dotris Dictio (Leop Nov H’cap/Naas November H’cap)

1987 A J O’Reilly’s General Joy (Ulster Harp National)

(1982-2003) Jockey

From Killorglin, Co Kerry, Timmy Houlihan was apprenticed to Liam Browne until his indentures were transferred to Pat Flynn. He rode his first winner when Robazala won at Tralee in August 1998, the winning trainer Michael Hourigan describing the young jockey as, “No bigger than a can of Coke.”

Houlihan also rode Hourigan’s top ‘chaser Doran’s Pride on the flat. Timmy Houlihan took his own life in November 2003. His final winner was on Little Whisper, trained by Con Collins, at Down Royal on September 27th 2003.

Principal winners

1999 Tryphaena (Leopardstown Nov H’cap) W P Mullins

2001 Calladine (Leopardstown Nov H’cap) C Roche

2002 Vinthea (Galway Mile) J G Burns

[née Conway

(1911–1988)

Owner/breeder Isobel Hayes made an inspired choice when sending her mare Lilting Lullaby to be covered by Le Lavandou. Lavella, the resultant produce, won five races, notably the Irish Cambridgeshire in 1958 and again in 1960. Retired to her owner’s Meanus, Kilmallock stud, which subsequently bore her name, Lavella bred five winners of 14 races to five different sires. Following her husband’s death Isobel Hayes took out a trainer’s licence in her own name.

Principal winners

1958 Lavella (Irish Cambridgeshire)

1960 Lavella (Irish Cambridgeshire

(1911-1962) Jockey

Born in England, where he served his apprenticeship with Fred Darling at Beckhampton, Herbert Homes rode his first winner, Alladin’s Lamp, at Derby in September 1928. He had tried his luck in East Africa before coming to Ireland to join the J T Rogers stable in 1938.

Always listed as Herbert Holmes, to distinguish him from Henry Holmes who was a licensed jockey at the time, so long had Bert Holmes been riding in Ireland that few people any longer regarded him as other than an Irishman.

Having moved across the Curragh to ride the lightweights for Bob Fetherstonhaugh, Holmes became stable jockey on Jack Moylan’s retirement. Apart from his success on Your Highness in the Irish Derby, he scored his greatest personal triumph when riding Circus Lady to upset the odds-on French filly Coronation V in the 1949 Irish Oaks.

Having broken his leg in five places in a fall the previous year and fought his way back to win the Irish Derby in 1961, Bert Holmes wisely decided to hang up his boots while his luck was in.

Not that the poor fellow’s luck was destined to last, for a year later, having made all the preparations to begin training, likeable little Bert Holmes dropped dead.

Irish classic winners ridden:

1000 Guineas:

1949 Sunlit Ride

1951 Queen of Sheba

Derby:

1961 Your Highness

Oaks:

1949 Circus Lady

1955 Agar’s Plough

(1906-1992)

“Yellow, white slvs, red and yellow qtd cap”

The wife of Jocelyn Edgar Jackson, Molly Jackson was the owner of Spanner, winner of 11 races on the flat and over hurdles and the horse who gave Dermot Weld his first win as a trainer. The Jacksons were in the hotel business, the Windsor in Lancaster Gate, London, and ran a small stud at Littleton Manor, Reigate, Surrey. Mr Jackson owned Ginnie’s Pet, winner of the 1974 Wokingham at Royal Ascot, trained at Epsom by John Sutcliffe. Molly Jackson died in February 1992.

Principal winners:

1972 Spanner (Galway Amateur H’cap) D K Weld

1973 Spanner (Galway Amateur H’cap) D K Weld

1975 Spanner (Galway Amateur H’cap/Galway Hurdle Div 1) D K Weld

Who Was Who In Irish Racing, by Guy St John Williams and Francis P. Hyland, is published by Daletta Press. Priced at €100, copies can be purchased from Farrell & Nephew, 8 Main Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare. There is €7 post and packaging fee for telephone or internet orders. It is also on sale in Barker & Jones, Poplar Square, Naas. Tel: 045 431708 Web: farrellandnephew.ie